Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

The critically acclaimed 2020 non fiction book, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson is a must read for anyone interested in comprehending the social and political realities of our times. Drawing on her own background as the daughter of a civil-rights era couple, Wilkerson offers an illuminating look into the origins and implications of our modern practices of oppression. As the first Black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for her work, it is no surprise that Wilkerson is both comfortable and adept in tackling the often difficult subject matter.

In “Caste” Wilkerson uses her linguistic brilliance to explain how caste operates within our society. Wilkerson defines caste as an inescapable hierarchy of power based on birth or perceived traits. She notes that often members of certain castes are assigned “honorary” privileges that come at the cost of stripping other members of the same caste of the very same privilege. Moreover, these privileges are often bestowed solely based on one’s physical appearance or ethnicity. This system of statuses coupled with a focus on group-identity serves to both maintain the existing hierarchies of power and suppress the abilities of members of other castes. Power is not so much wielded through choice but rather through subtle and invisible means.

As Wilkerson explains, caste systems are not limited to one region, race or culture. She argues that all societies have a caste system of some kind, including the US where racism has been formative in our nation’s history. Wilkerson uses her expertise in many different fields to compare and contrast the US caste system to caste systems abroad and in other eras, such as the Nazis and the Indian caste system. Highly effective, Wilkerson’s comparative approach offers an eye-opening look at how today’s democracy still maintains a strong underbelly of social injustice.

Through both a historical and contemporary context, Wilkerson outlines three main types of caste systems in this book: the principle of prejudice, the principle of descent and the principle of pollution. Prejudice is a form of discrimination based on a deemed inferiority of one group by another. Those deemed of inferior value are subject to symbolic violence that is perpetuated through words, stereotypes, and institutions. The principle of descent describes one’s position in the caste system being connected to one’s birth, either through blood or politics. The principle of pollution is the idea that some individuals are contaminated and excluded based on physical characteristics. Wilkerson offers more nuanced explanations of each component and how each operates in her narrative.

Ultimately, Wilkerson’s analysis offers little in terms of practical solutions, rather she prods the reader to consider the implications of history and present-day power dynamics. One of her primary calls to action is for us to understand the profound psychological, societal and economic toll this oppressive system has endured. Awareness and education, she argues, are the first step in making meaningful change. A fascinating book on the resilience of inequality and oppression, “Caste: Origins of Our Discontents” allows readers to better understand the basis of discrimination and how to create more equitable systems of power.